Footage of the former TOWIE beauty performing a sex act on a mystery man has been shared between hundreds of people on mobile phones.

Lauren, 27, told friends she feels humiliated after discovering the six-second clip was being exchanged last week.

But she's not the first to fall victim.

(Image: Instagram)

Whenever a new one hits the web everyone goes mad trying to keep up with the rumours: Is that really her? Is that really him? Who's that in the background? Who released it and why? What's that on her...? Oh, EUGH.

Sex tapes have made some people's careers (*cough* Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton *cough*) and ruined others (*cough* Screech from Saved By The Bell *cough*).

And they've inspired both sympathy and horror.

Here's our list of the top 12 biggest celebrity sex tape scandals. Prepare yourself for the good, the bad and the hideously ugly.

Tulisa Contostavlos and Justin Edwards

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The former X Factor judge and NDubz singer released a clip admitting she starred in the video that was sensationally leaked onto the internet.

She said she was "devastated" and "heartbroken" by the whole thing and accused the video's co-star and her ex-boyfriend, Justin Edwards (aka DJ Ultra), of selling the tape without her knowledge.

We reckon she emerged from the affair with her dignity very much intact. Read the full story here and watch her YouTube confession below.

Paris Hilton and Rick Salomon

(Image: Getty)

The most successful celebrity sex tape ever, 1 Night In Paris proved that recording yourself rolling around naked with someone is a surefire way to make yourself insanely rich and famous.

Paris and her then boyfriend Rick Salomon filmed themselves getting frisky in 2004 and the world went crazy for the video.

Previously a little known socialite and heiress, the tape kick-started Paris' career as a reality telly star, singer (?), model and sometime fashion designer. She's now some kind of serious DJ, believe it or not.

Kim Kardashian and Ray J

The 39-minute video of Kim and her then-boyfriend Ray J getting up to all kinds of naughtiness in 2007 catapulted the relatively unknown reality star into megastardom when it was leaked onto the internet.

It also directly earned her about £3million after she struck a deal with the rights holders.

Now she's become one of the most talked about celebrities in the world and upgraded her rapper beau status by marrying Kanye West.

Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee

Pam's homemade sex vid was with her then-husband Tommy Lee was filmed during their honeymoon in 1995.

The tape was stolen from their house and put onto the internet and went viral.

It was one of the very first celebrity sex tapes to be leaked in this way.

Pam sued the video distribution company and eventually entered into a confidential settlement with them.

The tape's now only available via subscriptions to certain sites.

Dustin Diamond

Screech from 1990s kids' show Saved By The Bell failed to resurrect his career with this tape of himself sleeping with two unknown girls in 2007.

He did however manage to introduce the phrase 'Dirty Sanchez' into common vocabulary.

Well done, Dustin.

Katie Price and Dane Bowers

Before Kieran Hayler, before Danny Cipriani, before Leandro Penna, before Alex Reid, yes, even before Peter Andre, there was Dane Bowers.

A lot of Dane Bowers as it happens. His and Katie's sex tape was nicked from the flat they shared in 1999 and put on the Internet for everyone to, uh, enjoy.

Verne Troyer and Ranae Shrider

Talking about her sex life with Verne, Ranae said, "He wasn't short of sexy skills and tried his hardest to make up in technique what he lacked in size."

Abi Titmuss and John Leslie

Fromer nurse Abi filmed herself getting kinky with her ex-fella John Leslie and an unidentified woman in 2000.

The 16 minute tape was released in 2005 and instantly secured her a place on the cover of every lads' mag across the country.

Fred Durst and 'unknown'

(Image: FilmMagic)

Fred Durst is famous for two things: fronting mainstream rock group Limp Bizkit and starring in a sex tape with an unknown woman that was leaked onto the web in 2005.

If you're desperate for a third 'thing' then you could maybe throw his silly red hat into the mix, too.

Colin Farrell and Nicole Narain

We'd be a bit disappointed if Colin had never made a sex tape as he seems the right sort. But he has, so, um, we're not.

He was though and ended up suing his 2003 co-star, Playboy model Nicole Narain, accusing her of releasing it to make money.

They ended up settling out of court. Colin told Jonathan Ross on his talk show in 2005, "At the end of the deposition the man in charge said, 'I hope you've learned your lesson, Mr Farrell,' and I said, 'Absolutely, next time I'll take the tape with me.'"

Hulk Hogan and Heather Clem

(Image: Getty)

Much like Hulk Hogan's sex tape with his best friend's former wife Heather Clem.